Can you live with a cat if you have

allergies?
Last reviewed Mon 5 March 2018
By Zawn Villines

People with cat allergies react to specific substances that cats produce, such as saliva, skin
flakes called dander, or urine.

The substances that cause these reactions are called allergens. A cat allergy can cause
symptoms ranging from mild respiratory problems to a life-threatening syndrome called
anaphylaxis.

Cat allergies are among the most common allergies. According to one study, about 12 percent
of Americans are allergic to cats, but in Europe, it is much higher at around 26 percent.

Fast facts about cat allergies:

 Most people experience mild to moderate symptoms.

 Some people who have allergies may be able to live with cats.
 Researchers do not fully understand why some people develop cat allergies and others
do not.

Why do people get cat allergies?

Allergies are usually caused by substances attached to cat hair, rather than the hair itself.

Allergies develop when the immune system overreacts to a usually harmless substance.

This causes a person's immune system to react to that substance as if it were a virus, bacteria,
or another invader. Most people react to substances found in a cat's sweat, saliva, and anal
glands.
Some people who have adverse reactions to cats think that they are allergic to cat hair. It is
not hair that causes the reaction though.

Instead, the problem is other substances, such as cat dander, cat urine, cat saliva, and other
substances that may attach to a cat's hair. These substances contain some proteins that can
cause allergic reactions.

Symptoms

The symptoms of cat allergies vary depending on the protein someone is allergic to and their
exposure to that protein. For example, tiny allergens from cats can land in a person's nose or
eyes, causing burning or itching.

The most common symptoms of a cat allergy include:

 an asthma attack in people who have asthma

 respiratory symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, or a stuffy nose
 irritated or red eyes
 itchy skin
 a rash on areas of the body that have come into contact with cat allergens

Very rarely, people with a cat allergy can develop a severe allergic reaction called
anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis makes it difficult to breathe, can lower blood pressure to dangerous
levels, and can send the body into shock.

A person who has trouble breathing or feels like they are choking following contact with a cat
should seek immediate emergency care. Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening reaction.

A person who is allergic to cats may continue to have symptoms even after the cat is no
longer present. That happens because cat dander and other cat allergens can land on furniture
and rugs, remain on unwashed clothes, and linger in linens.

What causes cat allergies?

Some studies suggest that early exposure to animals may increase the risk of allergies.
One theory is that exposure to animals very early in a person's life may sensitize those who
are already vulnerable to allergies. This causes them to later develop an allergy to cats. A
2015 study linked early pet exposure to later allergies.

Other research has arrived at the opposite conclusion. Exposure to pets early on in life may
actually lower the risk of asthma and allergies. This means that concerns about possible
allergies should not determine whether or not a family gets a pet.

People with some other allergies are more likely to be allergic to cats. An allergy to dogs is
closely correlated with an allergy to cats. People who are allergic to cows, pigs, and horses
may also be allergic to cats. Some people might be more sensitive to pet dander and other
substances on pets' bodies.

How do you know if you are allergic to cats?

Most people suspect they are allergic to cats based on the symptoms they experience when
they are around cats. Symptoms alone, however, will not reveal which specific proteins a
person is allergic to. Allergy tests, including blood tests or a skin prick test, can determine
whether a person has a cat allergy.

A skin prick test involves placing a tiny amount of common cat allergen just underneath the
skin, then waiting for a reaction. Blood tests can test for specific immune substances
associated with cat and other allergies.

Knowing the specific proteins a person is allergic to can help with deciding on the right
treatment. So people who have cat allergies but want to continue living with cats should see
an allergist.

Cat allergies in infants

Babies cannot talk about their symptoms, so cat allergies in infants may go undetected.
Babies and toddlers who are often sick, who have difficulty sleeping, who have trouble
breathing, who develop rashes, or who have unexplained respiratory symptoms may have
allergies.

If there are cats or other animals in the house, consider seeing an allergist for allergy testing.
Other household allergens, such as dust mites or mold, can also be triggers of allergy
symptoms.